One Day Away: County clerk expecting high turnout

Adair County Clerk Sandy Collop is estimating as many as three-fourths of Adair County voters will cast ballots Tuesday, potentially beating both the 2008 turnout and the state's forecast for this year's turnout.

"Be ready, be ready, they're going to turn out," Collop said she and county election organizers have been told this year by state and federal officials.

But she noted that absentee ballots are lower this year than in 2008, with about 1,030 votes cast as of Friday afternoon.

"We plan for something like this for a long time," Collop said, "and we've been talking for three years about this presidential election."

The Missouri Secretary of State's Office has estimated voter turnout of 72 percent across the state, with Adair County reporting 69 percent turnout in 2008.

Polls open at 6 a.m. and remain open for any voters in line at 7 p.m.

According to the county clerk's office, Adair County has 15,847 registered voters.

And as election officials are completing the final checklists before the polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, everything from floor plans to crowd control to electrical cords are falling into place.

"It could be a long evening and we'll just make the best of it," Collop said.

Final plans included major items like ensuring there is adequate waiting room for lines of voters to purchasing 20 extension cords to provide for lighting inside individual polling booths.

And in a change from the most recent non-presidential elections and a revisit of the 2008 election, the county clerk's office will be posting election results as they come in from the 10 individual precincts and absentee ballots, engaging voters more in the precinct-by-precinct process usually seen in larger voting areas.

"It was exciting and made for a fun evening," Collop said of the precinct-by-precinct results in 2008. "It made it more fun for the people [at the courthouse]."

And despite Monday's rain and cloudy skies, Tuesday is forecast to be mostly cloudy and dry, according to the National Weather Service. The forecast includes possible gusty winds with a high near 53 degrees and a low of about 30 degrees.

"It's supposed to be nice and that means a good turnout," Collop said.

Collop did urge voters to educate themselves on both the ballot items and candidates before coming out to the polls Tuesday to ensure a smooth and timely process for all voters, especially given the number of items on the ballot.

"It's a big ballot," she said, "and it's got items on both the front and the back."

But, given the ballot's length she also asked voters to remain respectful of others while waiting in line.

"It is that person's right to take as much time as they want [to vote]," she said. "It takes a lot of reading to make it through the ballot. And I'd hope people will remember that when they're in the booth."

Acceptable forms of identification include:- Voter ID card issued by county- Current and valid driver's license- State-issued photo ID- Military ID- Current utility bill- Current bank statement- Government-issued ID- Payroll checkIf no ID is available and both election supervisors know the voter, they will be allowed to voteVoters unsure of whether their ID qualifies can call the Adair County Clerk's Office at (660) 665-3350.